odd bichirs

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i think it depends if they are so young that they still have their exturnal gils which would mean they would need loads of air
 
T1KARMANN said:
i think it depends if they are so young that they still have their exturnal gils which would mean they would need loads of air

the external gills are there as they're internal air breathing system isn't complete yet.
 
my 3 senegals did that as well when they were younger they still cruise the top a lot they ate up all my ammana senegalis so i put an old heater clamp sideways on the tank about 2/3 way up, and they lay on it like a shelf do you have an air space in your tank, or is the waterlevel all the way up to the top of the tank? sometimes fish is just goofy!
 
DeLgAdO said:
so their still evolving?
Its part of the life cycle for young bichirs, i wouldn't call it evolution.
They are all born with external gills, but depending on many factors can lose them quite fast.
the external gills are there as they're internal air breathing system isn't complete yet.
I think that their internal breathing system develops very early in life, i've seen tiny tiny bichirs without external gills, for example, my 2" retropinnis didn't have external gills.
 
All species of bichir are born with external gills which they need during their larval stage.Once they become free swimming the external gills are usually absorbed into the body .The retention of external gills can have many causes but most will not have them by the time you purchase them.Its normal for young bichirs to stay near the surface its where
its easier and less energy consuming to get air as they do have lungs. also the water tends to be warmer near the surface and food tends to be present there first-Anne
 
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